Container with agitator

ABSTRACT

A CONTAINER FOR A SUSPENSION OF PARTICLES IN WHICH AN AGITATOR DISPOSED ADJACENT THE CONTAINER BASE AGITATES AND RETURNS TO THE SUSPENSION SETTLED PARTICLES OF PIGMENT IN RESPONSE TO RELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER PARTS OF THE CONTAINER WHICH HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH AN AIRTIGHT SEAL. ONE OF THE TWO PARTS OF THE CONTAINER CARRIERS A REMOVABLE LID OR CAP PROVIDING A ONE-TIME AIRTIGHT FACTORY SEAL FOR THE DISPENSING OPENING. THE ARRANGEMENT IS SUCH THAT THE CONTAINER PARTS MAY BE RELATIVELY ROTATED TO AGITATE THE SUSPENSION WITHOUT DESTROYING THE FACTORY SEAL.

SPt- 20, 1971 sqJAcKspN CONTAINER WITH GITATOR Filed Oct. 23, 1968 Nv 5y/vih 'gzson BY ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,606,276 CONTAINER WITH AGITATOR Sylvia Jackson, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Product Developmeut and Market Consultants, Inc., Jefferson Parish,

Filed Oct. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 770,019 Int. Cl. B01f 7/16 U.S. Cl. 259-108 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container for a suspension of particles in which an agitator disposed adjacent the container base agitates and returns to the suspension settled particles of pigment in response to relative rotation between upper and lower parts of the container which have been assembled with an airtight seal. One of the two parts of the container carries a removable lid or cap providing a one-time airtight factory seal for the dispensing opening. The arrangement is such that the container parts may be relatively rotated to agitate the suspension without destroying the factory seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Substances such as liquids containing suspended particles of pigment or the like are sold for a variety of uses. Many of the suspension carriers are relatively volatile so that the containers thereof are of necessity provided with an airtight seal at the dispensing opening in the course of manufacture to prevent evaporation of the carrier through the dispensing opening during storage and when on display and the like. In many instances it is desirable that the material in the container be able to be viewed by a prospective customer.

One widely merchandised example of a material such as is described in general above is nail lacquer or polish in which pigment particles are suspended in a relatively volatile liquid carrier. Nail lacquer of this type is stowed and displayed in transparent containers of plastic or glass. The cap or lid or the like which closes the dispensing opening of the container is applied to the container at the factory with an airtight seal. Once this seal has been broken, the volatile carrier begins to evaporate with the resultant deterioration of the product. When the suspension stands on the shelf the suspended particles begin to settle to the bottom of the container. Owing to that fact, the lacquer no longer exhibits its true color to a potential customer.

I have invented a container with an agitator which overcornes the problems of the prior art of merchandising suspensions of pigment particles and the like. My container is provided lwith an agitator for stirring the suspension to return settled particles thereto without destroying the factory seal. My container is simple in construction and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. My container with agitator is adapted to use a number of parts already in existence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of my invention is to provide a container with an agitator for facilitating the merchandising of suspensions of particles such as pigment particles.

Another object of my invention is to provide a c011- tainer with agitator which can be operated to agitate the contents without destroying the container factory seal.

A further object of my invention is to provide a container with agitator which is simple in construction and which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

Ingeneral my invention contemplates the provision of a container with agitator in which an upper and lower con- 3,606,276 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 tainer part are assembled with an airtight seal so as to permit relative rotation therebetween. One of the parts carries a dispensing opening lid or cap provided with an airtight factory seal. An agitator carried by one of the two parts extends downwardly toward the container bottom and is driven in response to relative rotation between the parts to agitate and return to suspension particles which have settled on the bottom of the container without breaking the factory seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of one form of my container with agitator.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of another form of my container with agitator with the cap thereof removed.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a further form of my container with agitator.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the base of the form of my container with agitator shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. l of the drawings, one form of my container with agitator, indicated generally by the reference character 10, includes an upper part 12 provided with a neck 14 forming a dispensing opening. I provide the neck 14 with external threads 16 which permit the cap 18 to be screwed onto the neck by means of internal threads 20 in the cap. The particular form of container I have shown in FIG. 1 is adapted to hold nail lacquer or the like. In order to facilitate the operation of removing lacquer from the container and applying it to the nails, the cap 18 is formed with an internal central boss 22 carrying a brush applicator 24 secured in the boss with a force tit or the like. Since the form of cap 18 which I have illustrated in the drawings is conventional, its construction will be well known to those skilled in the art. I may form the cap 18 from any suitable material such, for example, as plastic or the like. Similarly, the upper part 12 of the form of my container shown in FIG. 1 may be formed of plastic or the like.

The container 10 includes a lower part 26 having a bottom 28. I form the lower part 26 of the container 10 from a suitable material such as clear glass or clear plastic which permits the contents of the container to be viewed by a prospective customer.

I provide the lower part 26 of the container 10 with an external bead 30 around the periphery thereof adjacent the upper end of the part. The upper part 12 of the C011- tainer is provided with an internal annular recess 32 which receives the bead 30 so as to secure the container parts to each other for relative rotation. The upper edge of the lower part 26 bears against a shoulder 34 of the upper part 12. In this manner the upper and lower parts of the container are so joined as to provide an airtight seal therebetween which prevents the escape of volatile fluid while at the same time permitting relative rotation therebetween.

The form of my container illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a generally U-shaped agitator 36 having respective legs 38 and 40 and a base 42 joining the legs adjacent the bottom of the container. I so construct my device that the legs 38 and 40 are disposed closely adjacent the side of the lower part 26 and so that the base 42 is closely adjacent the bottom of the container. The agitator 36 may be secured to the upper part 12 in any suitable manner known to the art. For example, tangs 44 or the like may be embedded in the material of the upper part 12.

As is known in the art, when any container for nail lacquer or the like has been lled with lacquer at the factory, the cap of the container is secured thereto with a factory seal `which prevents the escape of volatile fluids during storage of the material prior to sale. Thus, after my container has been lled with lacquer, cap 18 is screwed onto the neck 14 so as to provide an initial factory seal. Then, at any time after a period of storage the upper part 12 may be rotated with respect to the lower part 26 to turn the agitator to cause it to agitate any particles which may have settled to the bottom of the container. Upon agitation, these particles tend to move upwardly and outwardly along the container sides. As this action occurs, the legs 38 and 40 further agitate the particles to return them to the suspension so as to provide a uniform suspension of pigment particles.

Referring now to FIG. 2, I have illustrated an alternate form of my container, indicated generally by the reference character 46, including an upper part 48 having a neck 50 and external threads 52. This form of my container includes a lower part 54 having a bottom 56. I provide the lower part 56 with an external bead 58 adapted to be received in an internal annular recess 60 in the part 48 so as to secure the parts to each other for relative rotation. In this form of my invention, in order to ensure against the escape of any of the volatile carrier, I provide the upper edge of the lower part 54 with an annular groove 62 for receiving a downwardly extending annular flange 64 formed on a shoulder 66 of the upper part 48 when the bead 58 is located in the recess 60. In this manner a more effective airtight seal may -be provided.

The agitator, indicated generally by the reference character 68, of the container 46 includes respective legs 70 and 72 and a base 74. Tangs or the like 76 secure the upper ends of the legs to the upper part 48. As in the form of my device illustrated in FIG. 1, the legs 70 and 72 are shaped so as to lie closely adjacent the side of the container. Similarly, base 74y is disposed closely adjacent the bottom 56. In this form of my invention I provide the legs 70 and 72 with a twist so as to enhance the swirling action imparted to the particles which are driven upwardly and outwardly as the base 74 rotates with respect to the bottom 56.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, I have shown yet another form of my container with agitator indicated generally by the reference character 78 which may, by way of example, be a can for containing paint. Container 78 includes an upper part 80 having a peripheral lip or bead 82 adapted to ride into a recess 84 in the top of lid 86 when the container is filled at the factory so as to provide an airtight seal. I secure a plurality of stationary paddles 88 to the upper part 80 of the container 78 adjacent the bottom thereof. Container 78 includes a lower part 90 providing a bottom 92. An internal annular bead 94 on the lower part 90 is adapted to be received in a recess 96 in the upper part 80 to secure the two parts for relative rotation. An annular groove 98 in the lower edge of the upper part 80 receives an upwardly extending annular llange 100 on the lower part 90. 'Ihe bead 94 and recess 96, together 4with the groove 98 and flange 100 assemble the upper and lower parts 80 and 90 with an airtight seal while permitting relative rotation therebetween. When the upper and lower parts are relatively rotated, any particles which have settled on the -base 92 are moved against the paddles 88 so as to be agitated and returned to suspension.

In operation of the form of my invention shown in FIG. l, when the upper and lower parts 12 and 14 have been assembled, the container may be lled with the material such, for example, as nail lacquer and the cap 18 may be secured to the neck 14 with an airtight factory seal. The container may now be stored for a relatively long period of time without escape of the volatile carrier. At the same time the upper and lower parts 12 and 26 may bei relatively rotated without destroying the factory seal.

Upon relative rotation between these parts, base 42 agitates settled particles to move them generally outwardly and upwardly along the container sides so that the legs 38 and 40 will further agitate the particles to produce a uniform suspension. This permits a prospective customer to view the true color of the lacquer. This operation may be repeated time and time again without destroying the factory seal of the cap so that the product has a relatively long shelf life.

The operation of the form of my device illustrated in FIG. 2 is generally the same as that of the form shown in FIG. l. In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2, the the groove 62 and ange 64 provide the same effective airtight seal. Moreover, the twist which has been imparted to the legs 70 and 72 more effectively agitates particles to return them to suspension.

In operation of the form of my invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, particles which have settled on the bottom 92 are brought into engagement with paddles 88 upon relative rotation between the upper part and the lower part 90. Under the action of the moving bottom and the paddles 88, suspended particles are returned to the suspension.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a container with agitator which overcomes the problems of the prior art of merchandising suspensions of particles. My container with agitator permits the suspended particles to be agitated and returned to suspension without destroying the factory seal so that the product has a relatively long shelf life. My contaienr -with agitator is relatively simple in construction and is inexpensive to manufacure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims.

' It is further obvious that various changes may be made Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A container for holding a suspension of particles in a liquid including in combination, a lower container part having a bottom, an upper container part formed with an access opening, means assembling said upper and lower parts for relative rotary motion while restraining said parts against movement away from each other in response to said' relative rotary motion, said assembling means providing an airtight seal, a removable closure, means releasably securing said closure to said upper part in airtight relationship over said access opening, agitating means disposed adjacent said bottom, and means for securing said agitating means to one of said parts for movement therewith to agitate said suspension in response to relative movement between said parts.

2. A container as in claim 1 in which said agitator is mounted on said part carrying said closure.

3. A container as in claim 1 in which said agitating means comprises a generally U-shaped element carried by said upper container part, said element comprising legs extending downwardly toward said bottom closely adjacent the side of said container and a base connecting said legs, said base being located closely adjacent said bottom.

4. A container as in claim 3 in which said legs have a twisted configuration.

5. A container as in claim 1 in which said container part assembling means comprises an annular ridge on one of said parts and an annular recess on the other part for receiving said ridge.

6. A container as in claim 5 in which said lower part has an upper edge provided with an annular groove and a downwardly extending annular flange on the upper part disposed in said groove when said ridge is in said recess.

9. A container as in claim 1 in which said agitating 10 means comprises a generally U-shaped element carried by said upper container part, said element comprising legs extending downwardly toward said bottom closely adjacent the sides of said container and a base connecting said legs, said 'base being located closely adjacent said 1 bottom, and in which said part assembling means comprises an annular bead on one of said parts and an annular recess on the other part for receiving said bead.

10. A container as in claim 9 in which said assembling means comprises an annular groove in the upper edge of said lower part, and a downwardly extending annular ilange in said upper member disposed in said groove 5 when said bead is in said recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,469,649 5/ 1949 Hunter 259-108X 2,530,858 11/1950 Cerniak 259--108 3,085,281 4/ 1963 Massman 259--108X 3,456,923 7/ 1969 Zeuzem 259-108 5 ROBERT W. JENKINS, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 401-4 

